China’s e-waste worth $23.8 billion by 2030
- The value of metals discarded as electronic waste in China will total $23.8 billion USD by 2030, a sum that can be reclaimed through recycling and “urban mining” at cheaper costs than retrieving the same amount of metals through virgin ore mining, according to new research from Greenpeace East Asia.
- This presents a huge opportunity to generate wealth through circular economy.
- E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in China, and it is rich in precious metals. Generally, the three key criteria to build a functional circular economy are supply of used products, demand for recycled materials, and open lines to transport materials. China has all three in abundance.
- E-waste from computers, mobile phones, and other electronics will reach 15.4 million tons by 2020 and 27.22 million tons by 2030, growing at an average annual rate of 10.4%.
- If China’s e-waste recycling rate reaches the EU 2019 target, 85% recycling of both computers and mobile phones, the amount of energy conserved through “urban mining” of recycled metals will be around 30 billion kilowatts .
https://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/press/1397/chinas-e-waste-worth-23-8-billion-by-2030-2/
